LITTLE BLACK BOY

A Black boy’s love of all things aquatic leads to an interest in marine biology and the dream of one day helping the underwater world he finds so fascinating.

The boy’s passion for all things water is clear, as the book opens with him studying aquatic life in an aquarium. His love of water gradually morphs from splashing in small kiddie pools to learning to swim and eventually to jumping off the diving board. A Black father figure encourages his exploration of the sea, guiding him as he snorkels and kayaks. The boy’s concern for life under the sea grows as he learns more about the pollution affecting the marine creatures and cleans up litter on beaches. All the while, the unseen narrator encourages the boy and urges him to avoid toxic masculinity (“ ‘Toughen up, you may hear, or ‘Act like a man’… // But there’s no rush to grow up”). He gains much-needed perspective and courage by looking to other trailblazing Black marine biologists. The illustrations and palette fit the overall theme of this rousing book. Soft shades of blue, light teal, and pale green effectively convey the overall feeling of being immersed in the landscape of the sea. The encouraging nature of the rhyming text pairs well with the illustrations. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An uplifting book about the wonder and joy Black boys can find while pursuing their passions.